Dr. Keith Armstrong’s Camphora, Breathe work, 2022, dispersed camphor fragrances throughout the room with woody, minty freshness. The work builds on a personal relationship between the camphor tree and the artist. Carvings of dendrite-like structures mark the slab of wood that floats just off the ground beside a nose-height bowl filled with camphor chips and oil. Inherently, camphor laurel trees hold material tension as a ‘Category 3’ urban weed ( https://weeds.brisbane.qld.gov.au/weeds/camphor-laurel
On the wall behind the olfactory sculpture, the words:
Lie back on concrete
Feel the power of a whole planet pulling you into its core
If it’s raining, open your mouth and swallow a piece of cloud
If it’s windy, inhale scents drifting in the evening breeze.
Draw upon those aromas as deeply as you can
Feel them becoming part of your body
Atmospheres that once passed through bats, dragonflies, and cats, the exhalation of
seaweed and trees
With your back on the ground facing the celestial vault feel the world turn
(Adapted from an extract by Nahum, 2021, The World’s Turn)